We like to have our travelers experience as much of the local culture as possible while on a VBT vacation—including the scenery, food, people, and especially your accommodations.  "Distinctive Lodgings with Local Charm" is a tagline we like to use because we feel as though your lodging should be a destination in itself—a haven meant to savor. You can find short descriptions when you click on the "accommodations" tab on all our vacation pages on the VBT website—but we wanted to delve a little bit deeper here. So we're starting a series of blog posts highlighting some of our accommodations.  This month we'd like to tell you about one of our favorites, Agriturismo Montebelli, found on our The Tuscan Coast bicycling vacation. Located in the Maremma region of Tuscany,  Montebelli is situated on immaculately maintained grounds with olive trees, vineyards, and flowers. Guest can also enjoy tennis courts, archery, bocce courts, an outdoor pool, and a stable with horseback riding facilities and instructor! And who better to tell you more about this fantastic hotel then the folks at Montebelli themselves—Enjoy!

Well, first of all, what does  Maremma stand for? If you try searching on google you would get lots of information on the white shepherd dog but way past half the page you would learn something more about this beautiful territory located in the south west part of Tuscany.  When travelling through this grand territory you are overwhelmed by the beautiful landscapes of its rich and unspoiled natural environment. Views from the countryside, seaside, mountains and rolling hills unfold in a mesmerizing dream come true.

Maremma has a long time tradition in farming thus saving it from uncontrolled exploitation. Be prepared to enjoy good food and wine. Some of the best Tuscan wines from this area are Morellino di Scansano DOC* and Bianco di Pitigliano DOC. The Mediterranean diet here is at its best—seasonal fruits and vegetables, milk, sheep cheese, meat, wild boar and seafood make for top culinary specialties.

The territory offers ample choice for physical well being; apart from the tracks and trails to cover on foot or by bike, there are infinite opportunities for practicing sports like golf, horse-riding, water-sports, boating, fishing. On top of that, spa breaks are easy to get almost everywhere. Saturnia is well known  for its beneficial hot springs.

Last but not least, for those seeking cultural sites and events, Maremma boasts a historical heritage dating back to 750 B.C during the Etruscan times—Amazing!

And what about Montebelli?

Montebelli Agriturismo & Country Hotel is an oasis of peace and relaxation located in the softly rolling hills and olive groves of the Maremma countryside. It is twenty minutes from the Tyrrhenian coast and close to the art treasures of Tuscany. Montebelli offers its guests the very best of Tuscan hospitality and lifestyle. A stay at Montebelli includes holistic wellbeing for its Spa treatments, healthy cuisine prepared with organic produce, outdoor activities, sports as well as a quiet and relaxing ambience.  The century-old olive groves lining our Agriturismo grow olives used to make the excellent Fabula I.G.P. extra-virgin olive oil—the ultimate in olive oil for people who choose wellness as a lifestyle choice. But Montebelli is much more. The Zampinaio vineyard grows Sangiovese and Vermentino grapes, while the Giannino vineyard grows Sangiovese, Sirah and Montepulciano grapes. Both vineyards span 8 hectares and are classified as “DOC Monteregio di Massa Marittima”. These vineyards produce a range of noble Tuscan wines like the Fabula DOC Reserve—a jewel in Montebelli’s wine cellar—as well as the excellent Acantos red wine.

Our joy is your satisfaction. We are pleased to welcome you to our little Oasis..

*DOC stands for "Denominazione di origine controllata"—Controlled designation of origin—and is a quality assurance label for Italian food products, especially wines